Tapping A Vein

Like my BFF texted to me just yesterday, "You my dear absolutely need a product intervention". 

Ok, so I will wholeheartedly admit to being a hapless, hopeless product junkie. I do not discriminate either. I even like products that don't come from The Candy Bar, and I will spend money on them at RETAIL cost. Maybe my BFF was right.

Take for example this scenario:

My BFF and I were shopping after the brunch we shared on Sunday and we ventured into L'Occitane. They were having a sale so I, of course purchased three items. I purchased the product pictured here: 

Without really looking ( which is very interesting)  I pulled out the amazing scented "lotion" and applied it to my just showered body. The glorious scent of honey permeated the bathroom as I smoothed it on my arms. Immediately it turned white on my body, which was completely unexpected and slightly foreign for a body lotion. I contunued rubbing to the point where the white color disappeared; approximately 4-5 seconds later. "Strange consistency and a bit longer to rub in",I thought, but my smooth and  supple skin scented with the most amazing honey scent made me soon forget the application. 

On day two I was still surprised by the same application process, and the day-long, fresh scent of honey that surrounded me made me slightly obsessive over my new found body lotion. My skin looked great! It was hydrated and looked dewy. Still, the application haunted me. Was I doing something wrong? Last night I grabbed my glasses and picked up the bottle to read it for the first time. As you can see it was CLEARLY body wash not body lotion. That explained a lot!

I chuckled a bit, at myself, and quickly realized that I didn't care if it was lotion or wash.  I'm thinking im still going to continue to use it the way that I have been. Maybe I am on to something here? It's creamy enough to fake me out, and I'm an expert!! I later did a bit of research on the line to see if there was a honey body lotion. The answer is there is not. There is a honey hand cream in a tube, but not quite the size one would need for an entire body daily. I think I will use it as a body wash first, then decide how I best would like to use the product. 

Intervention indeed. Clearly I need a weekend at a spa rehab as my treatment. 

Rock For All Ages

Wow.
Right, they didn't reinvent the wheel here, but I sure had a good time. So shoot me.

Rock of Ages was a two hour long rock and roll anthem to my youth. I loved it because I didn't have to think about it too hard. I just had to sit back and be entertained. Beside the fact that I could name all the  bands and sing along to virtually every jukebox song that was played out in musical form on the screen, the cast of Hollywood heavies made it an even more enjoyable rock and roll adventure. Oh I know, Rock of Ages was panned by the critics and it opened to minimal box office success, but I would venture to guess that this one will grow some legs and spark new life on DVD.

For me, it was two things; the music, oh the beautiful music, and the cast. Let's start with my favorites:

• Paul Giamatti. The guy is an anomaly by Hollywood standards, but he has truly perfected the "slime ball, scum bag" role to an art form. He's so despicable and disgusting (that heinous ponytail,  ewww) that I hate to love him and love him I do. My visceral response to his work only leads me to believe the truth and the truth is that Giamatti is genius.
• Alec Baldwin. Hello? Is there any comedic role this guy can't turn into gold? As an over the hill rocker who stayed too long at the party, Bourbon Room owner Dennis Dupree, Baldwin and his loyal side man Lonnie (Russell Brand) gave one of the movie's comedic high points with REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight this Feeling". 
• Russell Brand? He just played himself, with a spot on makeover of a hair band groupie, which is why it was no stretch. His warm and fuzzy Lonny is the emotional anchor that binds this story together and serves as the comic relief. 
• Then there's Tom Cruise as Stacee Jaxx, a resurrected Axl Rose type of rock God. Cruise nailed it and for me, the guy plays this role so dark and so sexy that I was left almost searching the iTunes store for Arsenal/Stacee Jaxx songs. It's such a departure for this Hollywood Marquee player, that I once again am amazed by Cruise and his brilliance when he throws something different at me. See: Tropic Thunder

The rest of the cast rounds it out quite nicely. While I enjoyed the performances of Julianne Hough and a somewhat unknown Diego Boneta, and Malin Ackerman and Catherine Zeta Jones, this one belonged to the big boys. 

And the music. 

The climactic finale, with the rock and roll anthem of today, Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" was predictable but nonetheless enjoyable. It somehow managed to sound fresh and uplifting, but for me it was Cruise who made it new. 

Again, I'm just a sucker for a Rock and Roll story for all ages. So shoot me. 

A Telltale Sign That I Have Way Too Much Time On My Hands

Get paid to watch TV? Where do I sign up?

While in NYC with my BFF, she showed me this new app called Viggle that actually earns you rewards for watching TV shows. Really? Really. Viggle users can accrue rewards points while watching TV shows that are redeemable for premiums. They are offering gift cards for Starbucks, Amazon, Burger King, iTunes and many more with your redeemable points, and things like free monthly subscriptions to Hulu and Spotify and even big ticket items like a MacBook Air or a Kindle.

Viggle uses some kind of software sound recognition, like a Shazam app, that actually listens to what TV show the user is watching. By "checking in" to a specific show, the user is awarded points depending on how long they stick with it. Half hour shows, are awarded 30 points and hour long shows, like CBS's Person of Interest are 60 points, and if you change the channel  into the show, your total is then knocked down to 10 points.

But, these days, with the Olympics, I have been accruing over 100 plus points a night with the lengthy Olympic coverage. There are also daily bonus shows where you can earn extra points for watching. Last night, the Olympic was 100 point bonus, plus 185 points for the Track and Field and Beach Volleyball coverage( I was late for check in). The nightly bonus shows are clever way to get viewers to watch something that they normally would not watch and sometimes it's even enjoyable. There are also nightly Viggle Live games that earn points for answering questions about the featured shows. The challenge for me seems to be to wrack up the most points I can on one given day. And who doesn't love a challenge? All for doing something I'm going to be doing anyway?

This morning I received 75 bonus points for watching a 60 second Pepsi Ad, and I'm wondering if I will accrue extra points for each time I watch that ad. (I'll keep you posted) In two days, I have accrued over 3000 points, which puts me a quarter of the way to 9000 points for a $5.00 Starbucks reward card. For 18,000 point I can earn a $10.00 Sephora egift card.

But the truth of the matter is this, I don't do it for myself. You know who came to mind immediately when I was shown this "Watch TV, Earn Rewards" Viggle concept? My kids, of course.

 Maybe now, I'll be able to share with them the fruits of my TV labor. I'm certain these are rewards that they can fully understand.

Hollywood Came Calling

I love this story.

Seems this average Joe, Bob Gray, and his girlfriend moved from Cleveland to LA earlier this year. When Bob signed up for a local cell phone number, he got one that changed his life. Bob inherited an old number of a famous and well connected Hollywood insider.

"The next day I get a text message," says Gray. " 'Hey man, I just saw your sh*t on TMZ.' " Surprised, he text back, "Whose number do I have?"

Gray quickly realized he had hit A List gold. He says he got a text from none other than Paris Hilton herself, inviting him to her celebrity birthday party and dozens of offers for Hollywood premiers and parties. He explained who he was and the situation to Paris, who immediately put them on her guest list. Gray says he and his girlfriend "rolled up" to the Hollywood Hills mansion where the party was in their rusted, old Dodge mini van. Security, ready to pounce, asks him for his name and then checks the list.

"He goes, 'Hang on.'

"We're wondering if we're really on the list.

"The guy comes back: 'Yeah. You're on the list.' I think he was amazed."

The phone, with all it's Hollywood connections, belonged to none other than Nick Swardson, and through the phone he has connected with Kathy Griffith, Andy Dick, Kevin Nealon and none other than Adam Sandler. Bob says a call came through with a distinctive voice her recognized to be Sandler. They had a few chuckles and then discussed writing a screenplay about the whole thing. Gray now has a talent manager and a screen writing partner and are hard at work on just that; this unbelievable story of fate.

Only in Hollywood can you make a dream materialize from a cell.

Today's Special: Pure Beauty

If you've been reading the beauty posts here on The Daily Dandy, you know that that cute hot pink egg that is called Beauty Blender is ALWAYS on my lists of must haves. There is no better tool in the industry for applying a complexion enhancer, period. You've seen it here and in my store The Candy Bar because I'm Beauty Blender obsessed and I believe in this wonderful product. It's not my #1 Candy Bar seller for nothing.

And just when I thought I had reached foundation application Nirvana, Beauty Blender goes and makes me giddy with pleasure with it's newest blender sponge.

It's Beauty Blender Pure and that gorgeous white egg was designed for the skin care enthusiast in all of us. Utilizing nature's most "perfect design", the egg has been stipped down to it's purest form for a gentle, hygenic way to apply skin care and take flawless skin one step further. Apply moisturizers, serums, eyecreams, make-up remeovers and make-up primers with Pure and protect and penetrate the skin with a powerful tool that allows you to access hard to reach areas with ease.

The Pure Kit is red hot and just arrived in stores. Unique to the Pure Kit is the Solid cleanser, a disc shaped soap that cleans and conditions your wet Pure sponge. Also included: a FAB, mini Beauty Blender travel pouch with a magnet enclosure and net backing. It's not only big enough for both the Pure sponge and the Solid cleanser, but it allows for the dampened sponges to dry quickly and completely. It's a travel maven's dream, and it has an adorable, mini, hot pink Beauty Blender charm dangling on the side of the pouch as a cute bonus.

People have asked me if Pure can be used to apply make-up, to which I responed ABSOLUTELY! For me, I think the Pure, white, egg is too beautiful to get it dirty...but you never know what I will do in a pinch...What I do know is that it's a product junkie's dream come true!

The Pure Kit is priced at $50.00 and can be ordered at The Candy Bar and online.

The Holy Shoe Grail

This is NOT a post about the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins. No, this post is about the SHOES pictured here. Just look at them! They are so stunning, so eye catching, that I really don't even see Milan Lucic in all his Stanley Cup glory. Sorry sports fans. It's just that those shoes, they are spectacular.

The Holy Grail...of shoes, that is.

The obsession started back in February when I spotted Beyonce, court side at the NBA All Star game wearing the shoes. I immediately snapped a pic and sent it to my BFF and my shoe partner in crime. We just about died. Then she sent me the picture of Lucic and his girl a few days ago.

And I can't get them out of my head.

That shoe is the Christian Louboutin Daffodil 160 in Strass, and the price is almost $7,000.00.

WHAT?

7 grand for a shoe?? Yes, 7 grand for that shoe and it is the master work of Mr. Christian Louboutin. It's heel stands at 160 mm, which converts to 6.3 inches and that's just fricken crazee. I must admit, I am so taken by this shoe that if I had money to burn, like Ms. Beyonce, who rocks them in the second photo, I would not hesitate to add them to my collection.

I might even commit a crime to own those puppies. Just sayin. The problem here is I'm not sure I could walk in them.

But I'd die trying. And with a smile on my face.

Now Ain't That Some Sh*t

0-4?? What's this sh*t? Should we hit the panic button?

Firmly sitting in last place in the AL East is not where the projected winner of the World Series should be. That visual this morning made me slightly sick. I read this quote today in the Boston Herald, "No team that started 0-4 has ever won a World Series." But we're not talking about any ordinary 0-4 team. This is the "fully loaded" 2011 Boston Red Sox, and everybody knows that when you count them out, they make you look silly.

Now that's a bold statement coming from a bold Sox fan, and after last night it's more than questionable.

But let's add a dash of reality and not get crazy here because our boys have yet to touch the green grass of their beloved Fenway this season. We've got some time, and looky here, we've got the home opener this Friday which begins a three day home stand with the Evil Empire. Nothing more rejuvenating than a series win over those Damn Yankees.

Then we host Tampa Bay, who last time I checked were dancing at the bottom of the standings with the Sox. So if we do a little simple math here, the Sox have seven games ahead; two more with Cleveland, three with New York and a couple with Tampa. If they take 5 out of the seven against those teams, (which is totally possible) my standing visual becomes much more palpable. Yes? And if they don't we best be hiding the cutlery, just saying.

"We need some kind of spark right now," said newly acquired free agent Carl Crawford after last night's game. A spark? After four games on a brandy new, high hopes season? I hate to break it to you pal but it looks like "we" need a fricken propane tank to light a fire under this team because nobody here likes loosing streaks.

And what if they get their baseball swagger on and win the next seven games? Then we would be in the same place. Yup, we would then be able to comfortably say, "Now ain't that some sh*t!" Here's to hoping for that.

Top Ten Reasons Why I Need A Fricken Vacation

I'm just about ready to blow my vacation load and I've got one week left till I get the hell outta Dodge and hit vacation nirvana. Here's why:

10. SNOW. Snow, then more snow and if that wasn't enough here's a little more snow. And by now, it's not even pretty. It's fricken black and yellow and dirty, icy and dangerous. The snow banks are so high you literally take your life into your own hands by getting into your car. The street I live on is too narrow (because of the snow) for two cars to pass. If you get caught with another car, one has to find the nearest driveway to pull into.

9. It's February. Besides being the shortest month of the year, (thank God) February has got to be the WORST month of the year. We are still on that "most wonderful time of the year" hangover and stuck in the middle of "nothing to look forward to". February's only redeeming quality: GREAT SALES, on winter clothes and shoes, but I can live with that.

8. White skin. Yeah, my milky white legs and arms just aren't doing my psyche any good at all. And I've been working out like a highly trained athlete. Still, it's not attractive. Even a gradual self-tanner (which I highly recommend for this time of year) isn't doing the trick. I need good old vitamin D to pump things up a bit.

7. Burn out. Try as I might, that same old, same old is getting just plain old. The comfort of my everyday routine just isn't the same when it's frigid outside. Although a glass of wine always seems to help.

6. My Dogs. Now, you all know I love my dogs, God bless em', but lately THEY SUCK! Too much snow and bitter cold makes them think that it's OK to piss and shit INSIDE the house instead of outside the house like they are supposed to. Then, they look at me all innocent, like I'm the bad guy.

5. I haven't had one since my honeymoon. September 2010. Need I say more?

4. Did I mention burn out? What is it about this time of year that signals the crash and burn mode? No wonder they call it Spring fever, cuz right now I'm suffering from the Winter flu.

3. Every thing seems better when you are on vacation. The grass is greener, the food tastes better and everything looks better when you step outside your surroundings for a few days and take on another perspective. Even things that annoy the crap out of you don't seem so bad when you are away on vacation.

2. Everything seems better when you come home from vacation. Global crisis is much easier to handle after you've spent two weeks in the Caribbean soaking in the sun. Taking it on the chin from your boss just seems tolerable after you've toured the South of France for a week. Don't you agree?

And the number one reason Why I Need A Fricken Vacation?

1. Cuz I can. Don't be a hater...

Pop Culture Poop

Today my head is spinning with a whole lot of useless poop and I'm thinking about things that don't really matter in the big picture. Why do I do that? I'm intelligent enough to know that these things are not important, yet I still wonder about them.


Tony Parker cheated on Eva Longoria and now they are getting a divorce. It doesn't really have any bearing on things that really matter, like the Gulf oil spill clean up or world hunger, yet I can't help feeling awful for Eva. I'm even villanizing Tony Parker in my head and I don't even know the whole story. Apparently the whole celebrity obsessed world is villanizing him too, because I heard a woman on the radio say that when you cheat on your woman you loose, "hot points". So Parker lost some "hot points" with the public and some serious image points too. I'm also feeling a bit duped. (because its all about me) I thought they were such a cute couple who looked so in love. And now I'm thinking Tina Turner was right all along. What does love have to do with it when there is lust and text messaging?


Some people are up in arms because Bristol Palin has made it to the "Dancing With The Stars" final. They claim that Tea Party zealots have found a way to hack into the voting system to ensure that Bristol stays in the competition. Some guy in middle America even shot his TV with a shot gun because he was so frustrated that Bristol did NOT get booted off the show. Really? And I care about this because??? Yet, here I am wondering if the Tea Partier's are going to take Baby's trophy and give it to Bristol. I'll bet Levi Johnston is sorry he cheated on that. Could have racked up a ton of "hot points" with the public sitting in the audience week after week, smiling and pretending he was her proud baby daddy.


And I'm thinking these things.

After watching last night's episode of Glee, I'm thinking about Gwenneth Paltrow, singer? She played a substitute teacher who took over the glee club while Mr. Shue was sick and she was singing and dancing. Then I think about her new movie, which comes out next month, where she plays a country star who's just about ruined her career with drugs and alcohol. Singer? She's pretty good too. How does this new title for Gwenneth play out in my head? Actor, Mother, Activist, Singer??? Then she goes and steals the spotlight at the Country Music Awards last week. Poor Carrie Underwood, this was a golden opportunity to garner more Google search celebrity power points and Gwenneth went and crashed the party and stole her crown.

You see how my deranged mind works?

If I were a great philanthropist, or a famous economist, I would be thinking about ways to reduce our deficit or lower the unemployment rate. Or maybe what special interest group would benefit from an infusion of my cash. Instead I'm thinking about how Wills and Kate are going to afford a splendid wedding, on a mere $68 million dollar budget. The Queen's probably going to have to cancel the company Christmas party to pinch pennies or hock a few of the family jewels if she gets desperate enough.

Where is my mind these day?

While I can't claim to not being able to put together an articulate and intelligent response when having a serious conversation about global warming, the smart money is on the chance that during that all important discussion about world climate issues, I may interrupt to ask you what lipstick you are wearing.

Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner

I have a confession to make.

Last week, I told you that I kill a lot of my down time at night watching the idiot box. I have my set schedules and my favorite shows and if that wasn't bad enough, I pretty much never deviate from the norm because I DVR what I missed and watch those shows in the breaks in my rigid TV schedule. Well, last night I found myself on my elliptical machine at 8pm which is highly unusual for me. I try to cram that in the AM so I can make time for couch time, but yesterday was busy. So I decided to watch the #1 show on television, or so it has been said, "Dancing with the Stars", while drowning out the sound with my beloved ipod and my Glee play list.

A former dancer myself, (it was my minor in undergrad) I figured watching the celebs ballroom dance would be fun if I didn't have to listen to the crap they talk about. ABC's Dancing with the Stars has been on for quite some time now. I don't know how many seasons, 9 or 10, but I have NEVER watched an episode. EVER. I have seen a routine here and there, but My Guy is almost always with me on the Killing Time Couch, and I think he'd rather have all of his teeth extracted than watch Dancing with the Stars. I always thought the show was redonk, because I know about what goes on, (ie: who wins, who's banging who, etc) due to my devotion to the weekly rag magazines. I figured that was good enough for me.

I was wrong.

And I'm pissed at myself because NOW I'm hooked. I'm such a sucker for glamour. The one who impressed me the most was Jennifer Grey. Granted, she has an advantage because she studied the art of ballroom dancing for her role in the iconic movie,"Dirty Dancing", but that was hundreds of years and a few noses ago. A full fledged adult, no longer a "Baby", Jennifer looks nothing like the character we rooted for in the movie. It's like she's someone else. Her career killing nose job shot her into obscurity years ago, and now she's back for a stint on "Dancing". I had to now pull out my ear buds and shut off my Gl-iPod, to watch this woman shake it like she once did.

I was so impressed to find out that during a routine check up for the ABC show, it was discovered that Jennifer had spinal cancer. Four surgeries later and a lot of rehab, she was cleared to perform in the cast with restrictions. She cannot do lifts or tricks. Now in complete remission from the deadly disease, she credits "Dancing" with saving her life. Ironic that cancer was what killed her former "Dirty Dancing" co-star, Patrick Swayze. We know Jennifer has one heck of a guardian angel on her shoulder.

Jennifer is paired with last year's champ, Derek Hough, and I couldn't tell you what kind of a dancer he is because, again, I never watched the show before last night. BUT I can tell you that this lady, Jennifer Grey, is HAWT!! Holy smokes, she can move and groove and has got curves and bumps in all the right places. And she's got rhythm. The lady's got it all and she's sexy as hell! I couldn't help but smile as I watched her command the dance floor. And I couldn't take my eyes off her. Who was she dancing with again? Whatever, the point is, this lady is worth a looksie.

If you are a fan of dance. If you are a fan of the show. If you are a fan of Dirty Dancing. And if you are a fan of hot, sexy women, watch as Jennifer Grey captivates you with her own brand of sexy magic like she did so many years ago. I promise she won't disappoint and I predict this lady catapults her career in Hollywood 10-fold if she wins this thing. Just like Patrick said in the movie, "nobody puts Baby in a corner."

Oh yeah, and the other people on the show were good too.

Hello Lover...

I stumbled across a new love yesterday and yes, it's food related. (any of you in the over 40 set know that really, all that's left to look forward to after 40 is food and sporadic sex)

But this???...yeah I could really get into this place. Boloco, inspired burritos is a burrito lover's heaven headquartered right here in Boston. BO(Boston)LO (Local)CO (Company) serves up inspired burritos or wraps with the freshest ingredients for that fatty in all of us. Not only are their wraps finger lickin good, but the restaurant itself is a complete homage to the city that inspired it.

Bright colored art work by a local artist of simple local areas are hung throughout the restaurant. I found myself walking around observing the art as if I were in NYC's MOMA while waiting for my order. The challenge? To see how many of these local downtown areas one could identify. It was a blast. Then it was on to my food.

Hello Lover....
My weapon of choice?
THE CAJUN...roasted corn salsa, cajun spices, black beans, sour cream, lime rice (flour tortilla)
Then I added...grilled chicken and just the perfect amount of guacamole.
Then they ask if you want a small or a large. Are you kidding me?? I don't do anything small.

Simply put, it was a little slice of heaven. As I was devouring my inspired burrito, I read a letter from the founding partners posted on a large board by the front door. Basically what it said was, hey, we care about you and we want you to come back, or some shit like that. Either way, it completely enhanced my entire Boloco experience. A quick check on their website boloco.com, and I found what they call "straighttalk".

"Years ago, we made a choice to be different; to push the boundaries of what a restaurant can be. Inspired by our customers, we tried new things. Some of them worked, some of them didn’t. These successes, and failures, have made us who we are today.You see, we aren’t perfect and would never claim to be. The reality is that we make mistakes, lots of them. But we don’t let mistakes get us down. Instead, we use them to teach us and motivate us to be better. Better leaders. Better workers. Better people. Why? Because we actually do care about giving our guests exactly what they want – yesterday, today, and tomorrow -and we believe that with creativity, attention, and passion, our work will lead to an experience that brings customers back by the dozens, by the hundreds, by the thousands…and, maybe one day, by the millions. We’ll see. "

My experience was nothing short of perfection. Great food, quality, and great atmosphere. I am now a BoLoco groupie!!! This company has it going on! Check out their website, as their business model has a fresh and hip vibe that is infectious. BoLoco to go is ingenious. You can text your order, then call when you arrive and they will send out an employee to your car with your order. Boloco now has 17 locations throughout MA and New England.

I suggest you keep an eye out on your local downtown, because I predict it won't be long before BoLoco's start popping up all over the country. Let's hope they continue with the same dedication to freshness and quality as they expand.

And I'm left with just got one question...is it lunch time yet?

My Boyfriend's Back

This was a fine way to wake up.

My boyfriend's back and you're gonna be in trouble

(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)

You see him comin' better cut out on the double

(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)

He's been gone for such a long time

(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)

Now he's back and things'll be fine

(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)

You're gonna be sorry you were ever born

(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)

Cause he's kinda big and he's awful strong

(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)

All is forgiven.

Safe to say I have a one track mind.